Can-opener



IlIII (No Model.)

T. H. GILHAM.

CAN OPENER.

Patented Jan. 22, 1889` UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS II. GILIIAM, OF CORTEZ, NEVADA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,555, dated January 22, 1889,

Application tiled June 9, 1888. Serial No. 276,606. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GILHAM, of Cortez, Eureka county, State of Nevada, have invented an Improvement in Can-Openers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of canopeners; and my invention consists, essentially, in a fixed knife and a rotary piercing or gripping disk for engaging the can and forcing it against the fixed knife.

It further consists in a vertically-movable head carryin g the knife and piercing-disk and a cam-lever for forcing the knife and disk to penetrate the can and for holding them when at work; also, in connection with said knife, disk, and lever, my invention consists in a roller for the base of the can, on which it may move freely, and in details of construction, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective can-opener which can be operated with safety and rapidity.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my canopener. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the carrying-head and standard.

A is a base-plate, having a slotted standard, B. Upon the standard is fitted a carryinghead,O, adapted to move up and down thereon. In the face of the head and near one side is made a beveled groove-seat, c, for the reception of the stem or shank (l of the knife D. This knife stands at a slight angle to the plane of the face of the head, so as to be in the circular path which the can is thereby forced to take. In the other side of the carrying-head C is journaled a shaft, E, having an operating-crank, e. Upon the end of the shaft is the piercing or gripping disk F, having teeth f, said disk being located on the face of the head. and to one side of the knife.

The standard B is provided in its slot with notches' I), forming a rack. Through the slot passes apin, G, which is made oval in cross-l section, so that when t-urned in one position it may move freely up and down in the slot, but when turned in the other direction it engages the notches and is held. The pin is confined in the slot by a head, g, on one end, and by a lever, Il, fast to its other end. The

lever II hasacam, 7L, on its head, which, when the lever is brought down, is adapted to bear upon the carrying-head C. A short pin, J, is fixed in the back of the carlying-head and plays in a curved groove, 7M, in the cam-head of lever II, thus connecting the head and lever. In the base-plate A is mounted acorrugated roller, I, located just under the piercing-disk.

The operation of the device is as follows: The can is placed upon the base-plate, resting with one side of its base upon the corrugated roller. The lever H is now moved down, carrying the head C with it, until the piercing-disk and knife come into contact with the top of the can. The lever H is then turned down about its center, whereby the pin G is turned so as to engage the rack of .the standard, thereby holding it from moving up, and as the lever moves down its cam-head forces the piercing-disk and the knife into the can. The crank e is'now rotated, whereby the piercing-disk, gripping the can, forces it around against the knife until the head of the can is cut sufficiently.` In this movement the can turns freely on the corrugated roller. The pin-andgroove connection between the head C and lever H enables the latter, after being' primarily adj usted,to raise and lower the head to relieve and engage successive cans.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a can-opener, the combination of a fixed knife, against which the can is forced, a rotary gripping-disk located to one side of said knife for turning the can, and means for rotating said disk, substantially as herein described.

2. In a can-opener, the combination of a fixed knife for penetrating the can, and against which vsaid can is forced, a rotary disk to one side of said knife, provided with teeth for piercing the can and turning it, and means for imparting rotary motion to said disk.

3. In a can-opener, a fixed standard and a carrying-head mounted thereon so as to move up and down, in combination with a rotary gripping-disk carried by said head for engaging and turning the can, and a fixed knife, also carried by the head, and against which IOO the can is forced, substantially as herein described.

4. In a can-opener, a iXed standard and a vertically-Inovable carrying-head thereon, in combination with a crank-shaft carried by the head, a griplnng or piercing disk on and operated by the crank-shaft for engaging and turning the can, and a iixed kn ife, also carried by the head, and against which the can is ['orced, substantially as herein described.

5. In a can-opener, a base-plate having a standard and a vertically-niovable earryinghead on said standard, Vin combination with a crank-shaft in the head, having a gripping or piercing disk for turning the can, a iixed knife ncarried by the head and against which the can is forced, and a roller in the base-plaie and upon which the can rests, substantially as herein described. Y

(i. In a can-opener, a fixed standard and a ard, upon which the cam-head of the lever bears, a crank-shaft with gripping or piercing disk carried by the head, and a xed knife, also carried by the head, substantially as herein described.

8. A can-opener consisting of a base-plate having' a slotted notched standard and a roller for the can to rest upon, a movable carryinghead on the standard, having a crank-shaft with a gripping or piercing disk and a fixed knife on said head, a movable pin in the slotted standard adapted to engage its notches, and a lever with a cani-head on the end of the pin, said lever being adapted to bear down upon the vcarrying-head and to force its gripping or piercing disk and its knife into the can, sul1 stantially as herein described.

t). In a can-opener, a fixed standard and a vertically-movable carrying-head thereon, in combination with a rotary gripping-disk and fixed knife 4on the head, a lever on the standard, having' a Cain-head bearing on the carrying-head and provided with a groove, and a Fixed pin projecting from the carrying-head and playing on the groove of the cam-head, substantially as herein described.

In. witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

y `THOMAS H. GILHAM.

' Witnesses: Y

J. DE REVIERRE, JAMES B, DECKER. 

